May - Vancouver Board of Trade

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TPP OFFERS A GENERATIONaL OPPORTUNITY FOR B.C.
Board of Trade reaffirms its support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE AND ITS MEMBERS | MAY 2016 | VOLUME 56 / ISSUE 5 | BOARDOFTRADE.COM
Greater cooperation means a greater economy
SCORECARD |
Later this month the Board of Trade will release an unprecedented body
of work comparing the Greater Vancouver region to others across the globe
By tim manning
R
egions are the new unit of
economic organization,
a nd t he business community must play a key role in
their development.
Cities and municipalities are
increasingly becoming the most
important players in our economy. Even the new federal government’s platform has specially
targeted cities as a vital level of
economic planning and organization. However, it isn’t necessarily the municipality that has
created this new economic focus
— it is the region.
Harvard professor and economist Michael Porter solidified
this during his address to the
Greater Va ncouver Boa rd of
Trade on March 3, 2016. “The
region now is the core unit of
competitiveness,” said Porter.
“Not the city or the town or the
suburb or any other piece — it’s
the whole [region].”
Having many governments in
a single metropolitan area naturally creates competition for
limited resources. If municipalities compete without strategic
cooperation, economic growth
is limited and slow. However, if
Thank you, Janet!
Photo highlights from our 29th
annual Governors’ Banquet
and Rix Awards honouring
past chair Janet Austin
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cities choose to work together to
leverage their unique economic traits across a region, their
grow th can be compounded,
resulting in a robust regional
economy.
Studies have shown that economic growth in urban centres
and surrounding suburbs are
positively correlated. When all
jurisdictions thrive, the region
thrives, but even if only some
jurisdictions struggle, the region
struggles. Local governments in
metropolitan areas need to work
together to maximize benefits in
our region.
To build upon Simon Sinek’s
idea in his 2014 book Leaders Eat
Last, cooperation protects a region from the internal rivalries
that can shatter an economy.
When we have to protect ourselves from each other, the whole
region suffers. When trust and
cooperation thrive internally,
we pull together and the region
grows stronger as a result.
In places where regional economic development has been
ex t r aord i na r i l y suc c e s sf u l,
cooperation has been led by the
private sector.
For example, the Metro Denver Econom ic Development
Corporation (MDEDC) was an
‘Give back – it is good
for the heart and soul’
Provincial and federal
governments announce
$7M for skills training 9
Port authority makes
name change to provide
clarity Board Director Craig Hemer
on disco dancing, Disneyland,
and Vancouver’s evolution
Networking tips for your
next Board of Trade
event10
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LAS offers complimentary Wi-Fi
aboard its Learjet 75s. With personal
touchscreens, fold-out tables, and
a bulkhead-mounted flat panel
screen, you’ll stay connected and
productive in the air.
7
turn to page 2
Whistler Blackcomb aims
to ‘transform play’ with
$345M project
5
Your Airborne Office
hours days
initiative that was started by
economic development professionals and the private sector through the Denver Metro
Cha mber of Com merce. For
over 25 years, the MDEDC has
fostered cooperation between
the various regional players to
benefit the overall economy in
the Metro Denver region.
This cooperative platform resulted in Denver becoming an
increasingly competitive metropolitan area in the United States
and was key to the expansion of
the Denver International Airport,
the sustainable funding of cultural institutions and even the
development of their rapid transit network.
The key to t he success t hat
Denver found was in its code of
conduct regarding economic development. In the Metro Denver
region, all municipalities and
604-272-8123 | 1-877-399-8123
www.londonair.com
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G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
events and speakers
employment |
The benefits of hiring employees with disabilities
Former Walgreens exec discusses his
innovative approach to hiring and innovation
F
oster i ng d iverse workplaces that include employees with disabilities
can improve the capacit y of
B.C. businesses to compete in
the global economy and ensure
people with disabilities have the
opportunity to contribute to the
workforce and to the overall economic growth of the province.
It also makes good business
sense, especially as our demand
for talent increases across most
industries and occupations in
British Columbia. People with
disabilities make up approximately 20 per cent of the population and they represent an
important consumer market for
businesses across the province.
Randy Lewis sparked a leadership movement by asking these
challenging questions about hiring a workforce that nobody else
would. On May 26, hear how he
took the “dis” out of disability
at Walgreens and elevated his
organization from good to great,
by hiring the most profitable
workforce in the history of the
company.
This event will also feature
prom i nent a nd i n f luent ia l
business leaders in B.C. who
champion learning and employ ment oppor tunit ies for
people with disabilities. They
will share their perspectives on
upcoming events
See our full events calendar at boardoftrade.com/events
tuesday, may 10, 2016
Wednesday, may 18, 2016
Wednesday, may 18, 2016
mining for our Future
networking Breakfast series:
orientation and Roundtable
illuminate vancouver
Shedding light on the pressing
challenges facing young
professionals
11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Pan Pacific Vancouver
— Crystal Pavilion
999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Karina Briño
President and CEO,
Mining Association of B.C.
supporting sponsor:
Mining Suppliers Association of B.C.
community sponsor:
Teck
community engagement partner:
Mining for Miracles in Support of
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
tHuRsday, may 12, 2016
members’ Reception:
edge Lounge
5 – 7 p.m.
The Edge Social Grill and Lounge
1100 Granville St.
tuesday, may 17, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront
1133 West Hastings St., Vancouver
Wednesday, may 18, 2016
greater vancouver economic
scorecard 2016
11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Imperial Vancouver
319 Main St., Vancouver
Janet austin
CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver
michael geller
President, The Geller Group
Pan Pacific Vancouver
— Crystal Pavilion
999 Canada Place, Vancouver
meredith powell
Co-Founder, The Next Big Thing
special speaker
Farhan mohamed
Editor-in-Chief, Vancity Buzz
dr. daniel muzyka
President and CEO,
The Conference Board of Canada
Additional speakers to be
announced
supporting sponsors:
TELUS, CN, Vancouver Airport Authority,
BCIT
Knowledge partner:
The Conference Board of Canada
via Rail’s vision
The future for passenger
rail in B.C. and plans for
Dedicated Tracks
moderator
sponsor:
BCIT School of Business
Wednesday, may 25, 2016
the Business case for social
innovation
7 – 9 a.m.
The Four Seasons Hotel
— Park Ballroom
791 West Georgia St., Vancouver
the Honourable michelle stilwell
Minister of Social Development &
Social Innovation
11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
— Pacific Ballroom
900 West Georgia St., Vancouver
yves desjardins-siciliano
President and Chief Executive
Officer, VIA Rail
5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Lotte davis
Chief Executive Officer, AG Hair
arjan stephens
Executive Vice President, Nature’s
Path Foods
GREATER VANCOUVER ECONOMIC
SCORECARD 2016
moderator
Jane cox
Principal, Cause+Affect
sponsor:
The Province of British Columbia
Is there a speaker you’d like to hear from or topic you’d like explored?
Make a suggestion at boardoftrade.com/suggest
Register now at boardoftrade.com/events
recruiting, hiring and retaining
people with disabilities within
their own organizations.
Lew is joined Wa lgreens in
1992 as a divisional vice president in logistics and planning.
As senior v ice president, he
introduced an inclusive hiring
model in Walgreens distribution centres that resulted in 10
per cent of its workforce being
sta f fed by people w it h d isabilities across the company
– employees held to the same
sta nda rds as t hose w it hout
disabilities.
The model Lewis pioneered
increased profitability for the
compa ny a nd resu lted i n a
more inclusive and engaged
workforce.
His approach, recognized as
the “gold standard of disability
hiring,” sparked an innovative
way to look at productivity, efficiency and opportunity for
organizations world-wide.
Lew is has shared his stor y
across the U.S., Canada and
abroad of how steward leadership can improve performance
of the company and benefit the
community.
Randy Lewis will speak to the
Board of Trade on May 26.
Drawing inspiration from his
son Austin who has autism,
Lewis has become a sought-after
speaker and has received numerous awards for his volunteer
work and advocacy. SB
To purchase tickets for this
special presentation, visit
boardoftrade.com/events.
Scorecard will help
define regional economy
continued from page 1
counties promote the region
over their own jurisdictions.
This code of conduct allows
the jurisdictions within Metro
Denver to compete with regions
like Dallas, Hong Kong and Los
Angeles instead of each other.
In Greater Vancouver, we are
just beginning to scratch the
surface of what it means to work
as a region.
While a regional district system that brings together local
governments has been in place
since the 1960s, there is still
limited cooperation that takes
place outside of long established
service agreements.
T he mu n icipa l it ies i n t he
Greater Vancouver region still
act individually when lobbying
provincial and federal governments and then compete internally for development instead of
leveraging the successes of their
neighbours. The municipalities
of our region should act as a unified external voice, and work
together internally, as we know
we are capable of cooperation.
We saw a great regional effort
during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games and
the unprecedented agreement
between the region’s mayors
in 2015 on the Mayors’ Council
Plan on regional transportation
investments.
While these milestones add
momentum to regional cooperation in Greater Vancouver,
there is still much work to be
done to maximize our regional
economy.
On May 18, our organization
will unveil the first-ever Greater
Vancouver Economic Scorecard
— an unprecedented body of
work that has been two years
in the making.
The Scorecard represents the
most comprehensive analysis
ever compiled on our region and
its economy. Developed in conjunction with the Conference
Board of Canada, the Scorecard
is being lauded as our organization’s most significant piece of
policy work in 20 years.
The development of the Greater Vancouver Economic Scorecard is the first of many steps
towards a system of regional
cooperation to better understand our region.
It w i l l def ine our reg iona l
economy and clearly outline the
challenges and opportunities
that we need to face together. SB
Tim Manning is 2015-16 Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. He is also
Regional Vice President of Commercial
Financial Services for RBC Royal Bank.
Want to join us for our special
Scorecard Launch on May 18?
Visit boardoftrade.com/scorecard.
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
director spotlight
leadership |
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‘Give back — it is good for the heart and soul’
Board of Trade Director Craig Hemer on disco dancing,
Disneyland, and the evolution of his hometown Vancouver
Describe what you do in 10 words
or less.
Recruiting senior executives to
private, public and not-for-profit
sector positions.
Where is your hometown and how
did it shape you as an individual?
I was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. Growing up in a village
on the edge of a rainforest that
evolved into a world-class city,
I had the unique opportunity
to be a part of and inf luence
the growth and development
of a community that shaped me
personally and professionally.
What was your first job?
My first job was a paperboy for
the Vancouver Sun being chased
by neighbourhood dogs, followed by being a gas jockey at
the Shell gas station at 41st and
Granville.
What is the most important lesson
you learned from your parents?
Having being raised by single
pa rent f rom t he age of 11, I
learned the importance of a
strong work ethic, a commitment to your family, and the
into the region, which must be
managed effectively in order to
maintain a healthy, livable and
safe city.
What is something most people
don’t know about you?
value of a dollar. My mother
stressed to all of her sons that a
positive attitude can carry you
far in this world.
I placed third in a disco dancing
contest in 1980 at UBC in the Pit
Pub. I won a case of beer.
Why did you join the Greater
Vancouver Board of Trade?
The Greater Vancouver Board
of Trade is a critical and influential business association in
the Lower Mainland that our
firm has been associated with
for over 20 years. The impact
that the Board of Trade has on
not on ly t he busi ness community, but on our community at large, has been critical
for the continued successful
grow th of our city.
What makes our region unique
from others around the world?
The City of Vancouver and the
Lower Ma inla nd region is a
highly diverse and cosmopolitan
area that attracts individuals
from around the world because
of our strong economy, healthy
environment and stable political environment. The rest of the
world has been discovering the
incredible attributes of our livable city for the past number of
If you could have lunch with one
famous person, who would it be?
(And what would you order?)
Barack Obama: A good president whose country has held
him back from being truly a
great president. With “Barry” I
would order a burger and beer.
Craig Hemer, Partner,
Boyden Global Executive Search
Favourite vacation spot?
Disneyland (Walt’s original park
in California). It’s the happiest
place on earth!
years and that is why there is an
increased influx of immigration
and capital from all corners of
the globe.
How will Greater Vancouver be
different 10 years from now?
O ver t he nex t 10 yea r s t he
Greater Vancouver region will
continue to evolve as a worldclass cu ltura l a nd business
centre. We’ll see greater diversity, density and wealth flowing
Favourite book, movie or song?
My favourite movie is the 1960s
classic The Great Escape with
Steve McQueen, James Garner,
Charles Bronson and a range of
other great actors. It is a second
world war tale (a true story ) of
courage, intelligence, superior
human effort and daring in the
face of death. The movie epitomizes what people can achieve
in extraordinarily difficult and
life-challenging situations.
your business
in focus
Only HR professionals with a
CHRP, CHRL or CHRE designation
have a deep understanding of how
businesses work and are trained to
be high-impact leaders.
Let a Certified Human
Resources Professional, Leader
or Executive show you how their
achievements set them apart.
P U T YO U R BUSI NESS
IN FOCUS
hrpa.ca/infocus
What inspires you?
People who rise up from personal challenges and difficult
circumstances to achieve beyond their own expectations.
What was the best decision you
ever made?
To ma rr y my w ife Lori. The
second best decision I ever
made was to become a search
consultant.
What does a perfect day look like
to you?
Riding Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones, the Matterhorn,
T hu nder Mou nt a i n, Spac e
Mountain and Tower of Terror
rides over and over again at
Disneyland with my family.
What is the secret to happiness?
Stay positive, maintain your
sense of humour, do not dwell
on the negative, and help others
in some manner on a regular
basis. Give back — it is good for
the heart and soul. SB
The Greater Vancouver Board of
Trade is fortunate to have 36 of
our region’s top executives and
business leaders on its board of
directors. For more information on
these exceptional individuals, visit
boardoftrade.com/directors.
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G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
policy pulse
SOUNDING
BOARD
PUBLISHER: Business in Vancouver Media Group
EDITOR: Greg Hoekstra, 604-640-5450
AD SALES: Katherine Butler, 604-608-5158
As the official publication of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Sounding Board provides
analysis and discussion of regional and national issues facing the business community, along with
input from Member companies, allowing them to raise their profile in the business community.
Sounding Board is published 11 times per year by Business in Vancouver Media Group in partnership
with the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
Sounding Board is read by leading business executives and their employees. The paper has a primary
circulation of 12,500 and a conservatively estimated total readership of 37,500.
ABOUT THE GREATER VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is Vancouver’s chamber of commerce. Since 1887, the Board
of Trade has been an active proponent of business in the Vancouver region. The World Trade
Centre Vancouver is the international division of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and is
affiliated with more than 300 WTCs worldwide.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade works in the enlightened interest of its members to promote, enhance and facilitate the development of the region as a Pacific centre for trade, commerce
and travel.
OUR BASIC PRINCIPLES
The Board of Trade believes that the market system is the only system that works effectively in the
allocation of scarce economic resources for efficient and stable economic growth and job creation.
The Board of Trade recognizes the imperfections of the market system and supports the need for
publicly provided services such as social services, health services and public education. The Board
supports the philosophy of less government involvement in the business sector and believes that
governments should not do what can be done in whole or in part by the private sector.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-16
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Chair
Senior Vice-Chair
Vice-Chair
Vice-Chair
Secretary-Treasurer
Finance and Audit Committee Chair
Policy Council Chair
Immediate Past Chair
Member at large
Member at large
Member at large
President and CEO
Tim Manning
Regional Vice President
Commercial Financial Services
RBC Royal Bank
Robin Silvester
President and Chief Executive Officer
Port Metro Vancouver
Anne Giardini, Q.C.
Chancellor
Simon Fraser University
Evi Mustel
Principal
Mustel Group
Elise Rees
Partner, Transaction Advisory Services
Ernst & Young LLP
George Cadman, Q.C.
Shareholder and Council
Boughton Law Corporation
Lori Mathison
Managing Partner
Dentons
Janet Austin
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA Metro Vancouver
Robin Hemmingsen
Sacha McLean
Vice Chairman
McLean Group
Tracey McVicar
Managing Partner
CAI Capital Management Company
Iain Black
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kim Baird C.M.
Sue Belisle
Alice Chen
Lara Dauphinee
Mary Anne Davidson
Christine Day
Michael Dervish
Maninder Dhaliwal
Robin Dhir
Jan Grude
Craig Hemer
David Hoff
Terry Hui
Moray Keith
Christopher Lythgo
Sarah McCullogh
Gordon Nelson
Haroon Rashid
Jill Schnarr
Dr. Mark Schonfeld
Lorne Segal, O.B.C.
Denise Turner
Kari Yuers
Vivian Zalkow
Kim Baird Strategic Consulting
Business in Vancouver Media Group
Export Ventures Group of Companies and
China Business Network, PwC
Fiore Group
Luvo Inc.
Scotiabank
Lions Gate International
Twin Brook Developments Ltd.
Pacific Blue Cross
Boyden
Ledcor
Concord Pacific Developments Inc.
Dueck Auto Group
Business Development Bank of Canada
Spectra Energy
Rogers Communications Group
Paradigm Ltd.
TELUS
Langbury Holdings
Kingswood Properties Ltd.
Bravura Business Solutions Inc.
Kryton International Inc.
Taymor Industries Ltd.
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT No. 40011551
/BoardofTrade
Free trade agreements break down global barriers,
but B.C.’s businesses need our collective support
By Iqbal Ahmed
T
he Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) offers an important opportunity for
Canadian small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) to grow
their businesses, but they require
greater support from governments and the private sector if
they are to seize the opportunity and rise to the challenges of
global competition.
On April 18, David Crawford,
Vice President of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, presented
to the Parliament of Canada’s
Standing Committee on International Trade on behalf of our
region’s business community.
His message was clear: the TPP
is a generational opportunity for
Canadian business, and with
the right supports, SMEs in B.C.
stand to benefit the most.
While some people believe that
global trade agreements only affect top diplomats and heads of
state, their impacts are very much
local — and so are the opportunities they create. The TPP would
strip away restrictions and barriers for Canadian companies,
which would benefit everyone
from sole proprietorships to large
energy firms, as they gain access
to a free trade zone spanning 12
countries and encompassing 40
per cent of world GDP.
With only 5 per cent of exportviable companies in Canada engaging in global trade and every
$100 million increase in exports
creating 1,000 jobs, the potential
opportunity for growth under
TPP is massive. This is especially good news for B.C.’s 382,600
small businesses, as not only do
they operate on Canada’s Pacific
Gateway, but they also stand to
benefit the most from reduced
Premier Christy Clark and International Trade Minister Teresa Wat discuss
the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership for B.C.’s businesses at a
Victoria seafood shop on April 13. | B.C. Government PHOTO
tariffs and administrative costs.
Large companies, with their
significant legal and financial
capital, are able to more-easily
navigate the costs and red-tape
associated with trade than cashstrapped and risk-adverse SMEs.
While all exporters will benefit
from TPP, the marginal benefit
to B.C.’s small businesses will be
substantial.
However, this is far from a sure
thing. Free trade, by its very nature, goes both ways and a landmark deal like the TPP stands to
turn the status quo on its head.
While Canadian companies will
see greater access to foreign markets, so will their competitors in
the 12 signatory countries. They
will even see greater competition in markets they once had a
marked advantage in, such as the
United States and Mexico. This
means that if SMEs are to take
advantage of this opportunity
and thrive, they must prepare.
Positioning Canada’s SMEs for
TPP must be a priority of both
government and the private
@theboardoftrade
sector alike. One successful
model has been the Toronto
Region Board of Trade’s TAP
GTA program, a trade accelerator program made to serve as a
one-stop-shop to help companies
reach their exporting potential.
By providing resources and expertise, they have been able to
grow their region’s export capacity and competitiveness, and
once the TPP comes into effect
this preparation will pay dividends across the economy. These
types of initiatives are vital in ensuring that Canada can thrive
in a globally competitive market
place.
With so much export opportunity and growth potential residing
in B.C.’s small and medium-sized
enterprises, these supports are
vital if our country is to capitalize
on a new era of global trade. SB
Iqbal Ahmed is Manager of Public Policy
Development at the Greater Vancouver
Board of Trade. He recently joined the
organization from the Calgary Chamber
of Commerce.
Call for NomiNatioNs
129th Annual General Meeting
Monday, June 27, 2016
In accordance with Bylaw 9.5 – Nominating Committee
– a nominating committee chaired by Immediate Past
Chair Janet Austin has been established to receive
nominations for directors for the 2016-17 year of the
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
In accordance with Bylaw 9.6 – Nominations –
nominations for directors may be made in writing by
any member of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade,
provided that the name and written consent of the
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, World Trade Centre
Suite 400, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3E1
[email protected]
@boardoftrade
TPP offers a generational
opportunity for Canada’s SMEs
TRADE |
nominee are received no later than May 28, 2016, by
the Secretary-Treasurer at the offices of the Greater
Vancouver Board of Trade, attention Elise Rees, Suite
400 – 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3E1. Please
include an expression of interest and a current CV or bio.
For further information regarding nominations and any
other matters pertaining to the AGM please contact
David Crawford, Vice President of the Greater Vancouver
Board of Trade, at:
Tel: 604-640-5457 | Fax: 604-640-5485
[email protected]
5
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
member news
Whistler Blackcomb
seeks to ‘transform play’
tourism |
$345M Renaissance project will be the
largest in Whistler Blackcomb’s history
Port of Vancouver extends from Roberts Bank
and much of the Fraser River to Burrard Inlet
W
hist ler Blackcomb has a nnounced details of the most
exciting and transformational
development in its history — Whistler
Blackcomb Renaissance.
The Renaissance project is being described as a multi-year, $345-million
investment that will diversify Whistler’s tourism economy by providing
new four-season activities. The goal is
to “reveal a whole new way to play in
our mountains, year-round, regardless
of weather.”
“W histler Blackcomb Renaissance
is the most progressive investment in
our history and will leverage our tremendous success building our non-ski
business,” said Dave Brownlie, President and CEO of Whistler Blackcomb.
“Renaissance will further diversify our
revenue and enhance the activities
available for our guests while elevating Whistler Blackcomb’s core skiing,
mountain biking and sightseeing experiences and continuing our evolution
as one of the industry’s leading fourseason mountain resorts.”
The Renaissance project will include
three phases, beginning with an estimated $90-$100 million investment in
new mountain adventure experiences
Port authority makes
name change to provide clarity
shipping |
V
The Renaissance project will continue to grow
Whistler Blackcomb’s non-ski business.
designed to redefine how guests play at
Whistler Blackcomb.
Highlights of the new elements include The Watershed (a new indoor,
four-season adventure centre), Blackcomb Adventure Park (new outdoor
non-skiing attractions and activities),
and The Annex (an indoor action-sports
complex).
The project will also include on-mountain improvements and revitalization of
Blackcomb’s base areas, a six-star luxury
boutique hotel, residence and club, and
55-65 ski-in/ski-out townhomes. SB
For artist renderings and videos, visit
renaissance.whistlerblackcomb.com.
a ncouver’s por t has cha nged
its name, dropping Port Metro
Vancouver to become the “Port
of Vancouver.”
In addition, the port authority will
implement the consistent use of its
legal name, the Vancouver Fraser Port
Authority, when referencing activities
or decisions of the port authority. The
change is intended to strengthen the
port’s recognition with stakeholders
and customers as well as provide clarity
and distinction between the activities
of the port authority and those of the
greater port community.
Feedback and research has indicated
the use of “Port Metro Vancouver” to
refer to the port and the federal port
authority created confusion between
activities of the port authority, port
tenants and terminals, and even the
regional government. Internationally,
the port is already widely referenced
as the Port of Vancouver in keeping
with customary naming conventions
for ports.
The Port of Vancouver extends from
Roberts Bank and much of the Fraser
River up to and including Burrard Inlet. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority remains the steward of the Port
Centerm terminal from sea level. | file photo
of Vancouver, formed in 2008 when
three regional port authorities were
amalgamated.
As a Canadian port authority, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority was established by the Government of Canada
pursuant to the Canada Marine Act,
and is accountable to the federal minister of transport. The port authority’s
mandate is to facilitate Canada’s trade,
while protecting the environment and
considering local communities. SB
For more information on the Port of
Vancouver, visit portvancouver.com.
TICKETS
FROM
Special Event
20
$
Season Sponsor
GREATER VANCOUVER ECONOMIC
SCORECARD 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 | 11:30 a.m. − 2 p.m.
Pan Pacific Vancouver, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
Two years in the making, the Greater Vancouver Economic Scorecard
will offer a comprehensive analysis of how Greater Vancouver performs
among 20 international regions measured on 32 key economic and
livability indicators — identifying trends, opportunities and challenges
for our region. This data will help us strengthen our regional economy
and compete on a global scale.
Howard Family Stage
Supporting Sponsors:
Knowledge Partner:
June 3 to Sept 24 • Buy Early for Best Seats!
boardoftrade.com/scorecard
bardonthebeach.org • 604-739-0559
Media Sponsors
6
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
around the board
Photos from recent events and
activities at the Board of Trade
in focus |
Chair Tim Manning moderates a Q&A session with
Carolyn Wilkins, Senior Deputy Governor of the
Bank of Canada, following her April 5 keynote on
emerging economies. | Matt borck
Canada’s Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Carla Qualtrough, speaks on April 6 about her new federal mandate and how the
B.C. business community can play a supporting role in the lead-up to Canada’s 150th anniversary. | matt borck
Anibal Valente, Chair of the Canadian Construction
Association, discusses how his industry is ‘the
cornerstone of the Canadian economy.’ | pablo su
The winners of our second annual Wendy McDonald Awards were celebrated at
a special reception on March 30 at the historic Vancouver Club. The event was
hosted by Jill Krop of Global BC. Learn more about the awards and this year’s
winners at boardoftrade.com/WLC. | dawn stenzel
David Crawford, Vice President of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (left),
took part in a press conference supporting TPP on April 18, alongside B.C.’s
Minister of International Trade Teresa Wat (middle) and industry stakeholders.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson speaks to regional business leaders on March 31 about policing and
national security in the 21st century. He also discussed the evolution of police services and how the RCMP
plans to meet challenges facing Canada. | matt borck
Did you know the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade hosts nearly 150 speaker events, seminars, webinars, and networking receptions each year?
More photos at facebook.com/
boardoftrade
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
guest column
AVIATION |
Air Canada brings the business
of the world to Vancouver
In this op-ed, Air Canada’s Kevin Howlett
outlines plans for growth in the region
By Kevin C. Howlett
W
henever the topic of
a i r l i ne s c ome s up,
people tend to look to
the skies. But some of the most
important things that we do
occur on the ground, including
right here in Vancouver and the
region beyond.
Study after study shows airlines are tremendous drivers of
economic activity, both through
direct and indirect effects. Air
Canada is an excellent example
of this beginning with the fact
that along with our regional
partners we employ about 5,500
people in the province and have
an annual payroll well in excess
of $300 million.
In addition, as one of the largest private sector employers in
B.C., Air Canada alone makes
significant expenditures totaling nearly $1 billion annually on
local goods and services. That
includes $35 million on food
and beverage supplies – which
includes a fair amount of B.C.
7
wine – and millions more on
everything from crew hotels,
office supplies, ground transportation to advertising. Beyond this, economic multiples
broaden or footprint even more.
L a rger but more d i f f ic u lt
to quantif y is the economic
benefits our service brings. Air
connectivity makes it easy for
business people to work and
travel, is a determining factor
in head office location decisions,
draws tourists and facilitates
cargo shipments. One study
in the UK found a 10 per cent
increase in seat capacity could
boost short-term GDP by 1 per
cent, inbound tourism by 4 per
cent, trade by 1.7 per cent and
Foreign Direct Investment by
4.7 per cent.
Given this, we believe the Vancouver business community will
welcome our ongoing growth
plans. In 2016, we intend to increase our capacity by 14.9 per
cent over last year. Central to
our growth strategy is new daily
service to Brisbane launching
June 1 – the only flight between
Kevin C. Howlett, Senior Vice
President, Regional Markets,
Air Canada
One study found a 10
per cent increase in seat
capacity could boost
short-term GDP by 1 per
cent and inbound tourism
by 4 per cent
the Australian mining centre
and Canada – and new Air Canada rouge service to Dublin beginning June 10 with seasonal
Osaka service resuming May 14.
Yet while glamorous international destinations get much
of the attention, Air Canada also
plays an often unsung role knitting Canadian communities
together. We fly to 24 Canadian
destinations from Vancouver,
including 15 in B.C. The importance of this is difficult to
overstate as it provides these
communities one-stop connections through YVR – where we
are the single largest operator
with 11 million passengers a
year – to more than 43 destinations in Canada, the U.S. and
around the world.
We are also active locally helping charitable causes. Among
other things, this includes the
annual Vancouver chapter of the
Dreams Take Flight trip that for
more than 25 years has taken
disadvantaged children from
Vancouver to Disney for a day
of wish fulfillment. We are proud
of our role as presenting sponsor at the B.C. Women’s Hospital
Birdies for Babies charitable golf
tournament, and, through the
Air Canada Foundation, we support other children’s health causes. And we partner with other
organizations here, including
the Vancouver Canucks as well
as being Official Airline of the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Vancouver enjoys a place as
one of Air Canada’s most important hubs, a fact underscored
by our decision to station so
many of our Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the city to serve our allimportant Asian routes. We fly
our newest aircraft to Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, and
soon to Brisbane. We have also
invested in a 787 training facility in the city to support further
expansion.
These investments and our
growth at Y VR will allow Air
Canada to remain a leading
carrier in the Asia-Pacific and
also help secure Vancouver’s
reputation as a preferred Pacific
Gateway for both business and
leisure travellers. As a strategic
hub for Air Canada, Vancouver is
poised to keep playing a pivotal
role in our ongoing success, a
success that is shared by all. SB
Kevin C. Howlett is Senior Vice President of
Regional Markets for Air Canada.
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s
Golf Classic
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
|
1:30 p.m. Shotgun Start
|
Northview Golf & Country Club, The Ridge Course
New Date, New Course
Our Members asked for change and we listened!
What’s new about our 2016 Golf Classic? Pretty much everything!
After five successful years, we’re moving our annual golf tournament to a new
venue, new month of the year, and a new lower price so you can bring a friend,
colleague or client!
Join us July 12 at one of the region’s premier golfing facilities, The Ridge Course at
Northview Golf and Country Club, where you’ll enjoy a legendary golf course while
networking with some of the top business leaders in Greater Vancouver.
Team Cart Sponsor:
Refreshment Cart Sponsor:
Wine Sponsor:
|
6857 168th Street, Surrey
Register early!
First 50 people to register will
receive a pair of tickets to the
Freedom 55 Financial Open
(first stop on the PGA Tour
Canada Schedule) at the Point
Grey Golf & Country Club from
May 23-29, 2016.
Media Partners:
Become a tournament sponsor
For more information, contact Lisa Kaisers at
[email protected] or call 604-640-5484.
boardoftrade.com/golf
8
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
photo highlights
in focus |
29th Annual Governors’ Banquet and Rix Awards
Michael Mulcahy, President and CEO of FortisBC, is presented the Rix Award
for Engaged Corporate Citizenship by Greater Vancouver Board of Trade CEO
Iain Black, Governor David McLean, and 2015-16 Chair Tim Manning.
Janet Austin, CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver, is joined on stage by fellow Governors of the Greater Vancouver
Board of Trade at the 29th Annual Governors’ Banquet on April 11, 2016. | matt borck
Concert Properties CEO David Podmore gives an acceptance speech after
being named the 2016 Rix Award for Engaged Corporate Citizenship recipient.
More than 860 business leaders filled the Vancouver
Convention Centre for this year’s black-tie gala.
Kytami, a self-described ‘violinistextremist’ provided
a modern twist to this year’s entertainment.
Thank you Sponsors!
Governors’ Banquet and Rix Awards 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Rix Awards Sponsor:
Presenting Sponsor:
Reception Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
THE
JIM PATTISON
GROUP
Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
|
Vancouver Convention Centre — West
Thank you to our generous auction donors
AIR FRANCE, AIR NORTH, YUKON’S AIRLINE, A J CLOTHING INC., ANDREW PELLER LIMITED, ARITZIA, BARD ON
THE BEACH THEATRE SOCIETY, BC LIONS FOOTBALL CLUB, BCIT, BELLSTAR HOTELS & RESORTS, BOSTON
PIZZA INTERNATIONAL, BROOKS BROTHERS, BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER MEDIA GROUP, CACTUS RESTAURANTS
LTD., CANADA WIDE MEDIA LTD., CANUCKS SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT, CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE
PARK, CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL & SPA AND ABSOLUTE SPA GROUP, CF PACIFIC CENTRE, CHATEAU VICTORIA
HOTEL & SUITES, CINCIN RISTORANTE + BAR, CLEARLY, COAST CAPITAL SAVINGS, COAST COAL HARBOUR
HOTEL, COAST PLAZA HOTEL & SUITES, CORUS RADIO VANCOUVER, CULTCH (THE), DAOUTOVA CREATIVE,
DELTA AIR LINES, DELTA VANCOUVER SUITES, DELTA VICTORIA OCEAN POINTE RESORT AND SPA, DOI CHAANG
COFFEE COMPANY, EMPIRE LANDMARK HOTEL, FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS, FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER,
FAIRMONT EMPRESS, FAIRMONT HOTEL VANCOUVER, FAIRMONT JASPER PARK LODGE, FAIRMONT PACIFIC RIM,
FAIRMONT VANCOUVER AIRPORT, FAIRMONT WATERFRONT, FIREHALL ARTS CENTRE, FIVE SAILS RESTAURANT,
FRANKIE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN & BAR, GOH BALLET, GOLFBC GROUP, HARBOUR AIR SEAPLANES, HASTINGS
RACECOURSE & CASINO, HELIJET, HILTON WHISTLER RESORT AND SPA, HOLT RENFREW, HYATT REGENCY
VANCOUVER, INN AT LAUREL POINT, INNOVATIVE FITNESS KITSILANO, INNOVATIVE FITNESS VANCOUVER, JOEY
RESTAURANT GROUP, JUSTICE INSTITUTE OF BC, KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES, LAUGHING STOCK VINEYARDS,
LIFT BAR GRILL VIEW, LISTEL HOTEL (THE), LULULEMON ATHLETICA, LUVO INC., MARRIOTT VANCOUVER
DOWNTOWN, METROPOLITAN HOTEL VANCOUVER, MIRAJ HAMMAM SPA, MUSTEL RESEARCH GROUP, OAK
BAY BEACH HOTEL, PACIFIC BLUE CROSS, PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES, PACIFIC NATIONAL EXHIBITION, PAN
PACIFIC VANCOUVER, PARK’N FLY CANADA, PINNACLE HOTEL AT THE PIER, PINNACLE HOTEL VANCOUVER
HARBOURFRONT, PORT OF VANCOUVER, PURDYS CHOCOLATIER, RBC ROYAL BANK, REVOLUCION (MEN’S
LIFESTYLE), RG PROPERTIES LTD., ROBERT VAILLANCOURT, PERSONAL CHEF SERVICE, ROCKY MOUNTAINEER,
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS, ROYAL BRITISH COLUMBIA MUSEUM, SADDLEBROOK RESORT (TAMPA BAY,
FL.), SAFEWAY, SCIENCE WORLD BRITISH COLUMBIA, SEMIAHMOO RESORT, GOLF AND SPA, SEMPERVIVA
YOGA, SIERRASIL HEALTH INC., ST. JOHN, SUTTON PLACE HOTEL, VANCOUVER (THE), TOM LEE MUSIC, TOMMY
BAHAMA CANADA, URBAN FARE, VANCOUVER AQUARIUM MARINE SCIENCE CENTRE, VANCOUVER ART GALLERY,
VANCOUVER CANADIANS BASEBALL CLUB, VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR, VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT, VANCOUVER OPERA, VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC, VIA RAIL
CANADA, WEST RESTAURANT, WESTIN BAYSHORE, VANCOUVER (THE), WESTWOOD PLATEAU GOLF & COUNTRY
CLUB, YWCA HEALTH + FITNESS CENTRE
Bronze Sponsors:
BC Lions Football Club • BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund • BCIT School of Business • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP • Boyden Global Executive Search • CBRE Ltd. • Century Group Lands Corporation • Century Plaza & Absolute Spa Group • Colliers International • Concert Properties
• Earnscliffe Strategy Group • EY • Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP • Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP • FortisBC • Gateway Property Management Corporation • Hemmera Envirochem Inc. • HSBC Bank Canada • HUB International Insurance Brokers • ICBC • Jawl Properties Ltd. • Kinder
Morgan Canada / Transmountain Expansion • KPMG LLP • Ledcor Industries Inc. • LifeLabs • McCarthy Tetrault LLP • McLean Group • National Hydronics Group • Onni Group • Pacific Western Brewing Company • Rogers • Scotiabank • SFU Community Trust • Simon Fraser University Beedie
School of Business • Spectra Energy • Spratt Emanuel Engineering Ltd. • Taymor Industries Ltd. • TCG International Inc. • TD Securities • TELUS • Terra Law Corporation • TitanStar Capital Corp. • Tom Lee Music Co. Ltd • West Coast Reduction Ltd. • Woodfibre LNG • Westin Bayshore
boardoftrade.com
9
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
member news
Canadian employees offered
more control over their work week
employment |
WCBC survey finds overall increase
in workplace flexibility programs
By Linda Reid
I
f your organization is not
c u r rent l y of fer i ng f le xible work hours it is in the
minority.
Wester n Compen sat ion &
Benefits Consultants regularly
su r veys employers on t heir
workplace flexibility programs
and over t he past t wo years
there has been an overall increase in the flexible work hour
options offered by Canadian
employers.
Nine out of 10 organizations
offer some or all employees the
ability to choose from available
options when they work.
Flexible work hours are most
common in not-for-profit (96
per cent) and public sector (91
per cent) organizations, but are
still prevalent in private sector
(84 per cent) companies.
Flex-time requires employees to work a specific number
of hours a day but allows them
to choose their start and end
times. This is the most popular
flexible work arrangement with
93 per cent of organizations offering this option.
Other flexible work hour options include part-time schedules (74 per cent), working from
remote locations outside of the
traditional office (48 per cent),
permitting employees to work
a compressed work week which
allows an employee to work the
required hours in less workdays
(44 per cent), or allowing two or
more people to share a single
job (18 per cent).
Private sector companies (42
per cent) are more likely than
public sector (33 per cent) or
not-for-profit (32 per cent) orga ni zat ions to reta in older,
skilled employees by offering
a phased retirement wherein
employees approaching retirement may reduce their hours or
days and eventually transition
from full-time work to full-time
retirement.
More than three-quarters of
employers have offered flexible
work hour options for more than
five years.
Employers report that
providing flexibility and
options to employees
has a positive effect on
attraction, motivation,
retention, employee
morale and enhancing
the workplace culture
Linda Reid is a Senior Compensation
Consultant at Western Compensation
& Benefits Consultants, specializing in
assisting organizations determine how
much and how to pay, reward and engage
employees. SB
Linda Reid, Senior Compensation
Consultant, WCBC
As workplace flexibility programs mature, organizations
are moving towards more formal, written policies which are
consistent ly applied, as opposed to dealing with requests
on a case-by-case basis.
Want to help your
employees upgrade their skills?
options remain prominent. Employers report that providing
f lexibility and options to employees has a positive effect on
attraction, motivation, retention, employee morale and enhancing the workplace culture.
The majority of organizations
surveyed state that their workplace culture supports offering
employees flexible work hours
That, coupled with employees having an expectation that
they will exercise some control
over how they structure their
work week, ensures that workplace flexibility will continue to
evolve and adapt to changing
workplace realities.
Although employee utilization
varies by type of flexible work
hours offered, overall employee
utilization decreased by 3 per
cent over the past two years.
Even with a slight decrease in
utilization, workplace flexibility
Did you know that Greater
Vancouver Board of Trade
Members receive a 15 per cent
discount when purchasing any of
WCBC’s continuously updated annual
salary and compensation surveys?
Visit wcbc.ca/surveys or call 604683-9155 for more info.
training |
Provincial and federal governments announce
$7M in new funding for skills training in B.C.
T
he governments of B.C. and
Canada have announced that
a tota l of $7 million w ill be
available under the Canada-BC Job
Grant to help businesses provide their
current or new employees with skills
training.
Premier Christy Clark and Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism
and Sk ills Training and Minister
Responsible for Labour, made the
announcement last month while visiting Yellowhead Helicopters in Prince
George, a previous recipient of the
grant for over $244,000. Employers
will be able to apply for funding with
start dates from April 22 to Sept. 30.
“Our economy is expected to lead
the country in economic growth over
the next two years,” said Premier
Clark. “This funding will go a long
way to help businesses provide their
employees with the skills training
they need so that we have the workforce to keep our economy diverse,
strong and growing.”
A total of $5 million will be provided
to employers operating in 10 of the BC
Jobs Plan priority sectors, including
technology and green economy, and
the construction sector.
The government will add two priority areas: in-demand organizations
which include non-profit health and
social-services sectors where jobs are
in demand, and Emerging Priorities.
An additional $1 million will be allocated for employers to train and
hire individuals who are under-represented in B.C.’s workforce.
This is an continuation of the existing New Canadians stream introduced earlier this year, and will now
include B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint
priority groups – Aboriginal peoples,
persons with disabilities, and youth.
Another $1 million will be allocated
to organizations working with employers interested in training and
hiring refugees. SB
To learn more about eligibility criteria
and how to apply for funding, visit
workbc.ca/canadabcjobgrant.
Just Announced
Aboriginal Opportunities
Forum 2016
Acknowledging our Past,
Building our Future
Friday, June 17, 2016 | 7:15 a.m. − 12:30 p.m.
SESSION 1:
SESSION 3:
What Truth & Reconciliation
Means for Business
The Business Case for
Education
SESSION 2:
With remarks by:
Successful Partnerships:
Looking through an economic
development lens
The Honourable John Rustad
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and
Reconciliation, Province of British Columbia
For additional information, visit boardoftrade.com/aboriginal
Title Sponsor:
Missed last month’s Sounding Board?
Read past issues online at boardoftrade.com/soundingboard
Presented by:
boardoftrade.com/aboriginal
Community Sponsors:
10
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
COMPANY OF YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS
entrepreneurship |
CYP
How and where to get your next big idea
Creativity Café helps stir up new ideas in
Greater Vancouver’s young professionals
By Hayley Woodin
N
ils had a big problem.
The world was coming
to Sweden for his twoday ice sculpture event, and the
ice was melting.
On April 14, a room f ull of
Company of Young Professionals Members with the Greater
Vancouver Board of Trade brainstormed, roll-played and challenged each other’s ideas as they
tried to solve the dilemma with
outside-the-box thinking at the
CYP Creativity Café, hosted at
SFU’s Harbour Centre.
The discussions were led by
Mia Maki, CPA and FCMA, who
has been mentoring entrepreneurs, start-up and early stage
companies for over a decade
through Royal Roads University, University of Victoria, as
an independent consultant,
and as an accredited mentor in
the BCIC Actech VIATeC MVP
Program. T he topic of t he even i ng ,
s p on s or e d b y C PA BC , w a s
how a nd where to get t hose
nex t “big ideas.” Accord i ng
to Maki – and a wealth of research she shared w it h CY P
Members – thinking creatively
involves using all types of logic
and reasoning. It requires effectuation, or focusing on what
you can do with what you have,
and leveraging your means to
reach your goals. It’s also about
i nt e r a c t i on s , i n f or m a t i on
gathering, intrapreneurship,
hav i ng a n ent repreneu r ia l
mindset, and commitments
from others.
The case study of Nils is a realworld success story: his challenges eventua lly led to t he
creation of the world’s first ice
hotel, and a partnership with
Absolut Vodka.
On May 18, C Y P Members
will take the challenges facing
Greater Vancouver’s young professionals and present innovative and entrepreneurial ideas
on how to address them.
Over the past three months,
Members of the program have
been working in teams to create
short videos on how our region
can attract and engage more
networking |
Mia Maki, a CPA and Professor at the University of Victoria, led a ‘Creativity Café’ with Members of the Greater
Vancouver Board of Trade’s under-35 program on April 20, 2016. | Noravera visuals
millennials. The top videos will
be shown at the event, with the
winning team being crowned
as the “Big Idea Champion.”
(View the videos and vote for
your favourite video today at
boardoftrade.com/bigidea.)
The May 18 event w ill a lso
I
t has been more than three
years now since I started
working for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
Through my role as an account executive, I’ve had the
opportunity to meet and spend
time with thousands of businesspeople from a wide variety
of backgrounds — from small
business owners to tech junkies,
C-suite executives, millionaires,
billionaires, consul generals,
NHL general managers, Prime
Ministers (yes, two!) and the list
goes on.
In addition to the conversations I have in person or on the
phone, I also attend upwards of
80 to 90 networking events each
year. This is a mixture of our
organization’s events (we host
up to 150 each year) as well as
external events that I attend out
of personal interest or to support
our partners.
W hat I’ve fou nd wh i le attending those events is that
everyone has a different idea of
how to network and what will
result from becoming a Member
Geller Group; and Meredith
Powell, co-founder of The Next
Big Thing. SB
Don’t miss our May 18 event on
the pressures facing Greater
Vancouver’s young professionals!
Register at boardoftrade.com/cyp.
How to be a connector and not a seller
Tips on leaving a positive lasting impression
at your next networking event
By Mike Plumb
feature an exciting panel of
spea kers, moderated by t he
editor-in-chief of Vancity Buzz,
Farhan Mohamed.
Just announced, the panellists are Janet Austin, CEO of
Y WCA Metro Vancouver; Michael Geller, President of The
of a board of trade or chamber of
commerce. Some people I meet
have been networking for many
years, while others are engaging
with us for the first time through
our program for professionals
under 35, the Company of Young
Professionals.
In my opinion, one of the biggest mistakes people make when
networking is approaching it in
search of their “ideal customer.” Networking is about meeting many different individuals
from all walks of life. In fact,
that’s really all that a chamber
of commerce is — a group of
businesspeople representing a
wide variety of industries from
that region.
With that in mind, networking is about creating a great
impression.
Recently I was approached by
someone who was considering
joining our organization. After
attending an event, she told me
she was disappointed that she
didn’t meet a direct end-user
of the service she offers. I was
not surprised, given that I often
come across this concern with
those who are new to chambers
of commerce, such as ours, so
Mike Plumb, Account Executive,
Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
One of the biggest
mistakes people make
when networking is
approaching it in search
of their ideal customer.
Networking is about
meeting many different
individuals from all
walks of life
I walked her through what I
thought would be a better approach to networking.
It’s important to remember
that when you connect with an
individual through a board of
trade or chamber of commerce
event, that individual is likely
someone who is actively engaged
in the local business community.
These are the types of people
who volunteer their time in the
community, and often sit on the
board of directors for other charities and associations.
You may not rea lize it, because you didn’t have a chance
to speak with them about their
passion projects, but these individual often have input on
important projects in the community and are viewed as being
an influential “connector.”
People turn to individuals like
this for advice, because they are
well-connected, reputable, and
hard-working. For that reason
alone, it’s crucial that you leave
a positive lasting impression.
Net work i ng is about consistency. Jeffrey Gitomer is the
author of the world’s best-selling
sales book, The Sales Bible. In
that book, Gitomer uses a spectacular example from his own
experience. He attended every
networking breakfast at his local chamber of commerce for a
year and a half. Out of the blue
one day, he was approached by a
woman who offered to help distribute his book in China. This
connection resulted in $100,000
in sales that he would not have
had otherwise.
Once again, the key to networking is consistency. It becomes part of your business
routine, much like paying the
bills, making necessary phone
calls, or unlocking the front door
of your store each morning. You
have to incorporate your networking efforts into your business development schedule.
In my v iew, net work ing is
about three or four degrees of
separation. The first person you
meet — the one who you bond
with over where your family is
from or the hobbies you enjoy —
is often the person who spreads
the good word of your name or
business.
So, the next time you are at
a Greater Vancouver Board of
Trade event, networking with
your peers or volunteering your
time in the community, try to be
a connector, not a seller. SB
Mike Plumb is an Account Executive with
the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. He
has worked for the association for more
than three years. His background is in real
estate and the automotive industry. To
learn more about becoming a Member,
email [email protected].
G r e at e r Va n c o u v e r B o a r d O f t r a d e | S o u n d i n g B o a r d | M AY 2 0 1 6
women’s
leadership CIRCLE
leadership |
WLC
Social innovation and values-based practices
the Honourable Michelle Stilwell, B.C.’s Minister of Social
Development and Social Innovation. Their goal is to be provide
residents with support systems
to achieve their full social and
economic potentials.
The event will be moderated
by Brand Consultant Jane Cox of
Vancouver-based Cause+Affect,
a company with a mandate for
creating brands, initiatives and
events that represent the city
at large — creating a leadership role within the cultural
community. SB
Board of Trade hosts Minister Stilwell and
business owners for Social Innovation Month
By Anna Tan and Ashley Girn
W
ith changing consumer
preferences, businesses today need to know
more than ever how their customers see them and view the
world around them. Thriving
in tomorrow’s markets is not
g ua ra nteed a nd businesses
are aware of the need to plan
for uncertainty and overcome
macro risks in order to grow at
disruptive speeds.
With that said, social innovation is accelerating as a popular
business strategy amidst constantly evolving consumer demands. Global business leaders
are coming together and leveraging their expertise to develop
innovative solutions to solve
B.C.’s tough social challenges.
There is no single definition
for “social innovation,” but the
main idea focuses on finding
better and more sustainable
solutions to social problems affecting several people at large.
The definitions for social innovation are always changing,
growing and expanding, which
mirrors the sector itself.
B.C. is one of the world’s leading jurisdictions when it comes
to social innovation. This is
due largely to BC Partners for
Social Impact, a partnership
that brings together leaders
from across non-profits, businesses, universities, community groups, and the government.
Their united goal is to solve social challenges and create large
impacts for organizations, the
community, and each other.
You may be wondering how
businesses — including yours
— can help create sustainable
movements. On May 25, the
Women’s Leadership Circle will
host an event on the Business
Case for Values-Based Practices.
By joining us, you will engage in
dialogues aimed at solving complex social issues present today.
This event is in support of Social Enterprise Month in B.C.
and will educate you on how
organizations here in B.C. are
t ra nsfor m i ng convent iona l
business models, increasing
transparency, and gaining followers through va lue-based
practices.
Anna Tan
Ashley Girn
Leaders with an eye for forward thinking will talk about
how they’ve adopted social innovation and how it’s spreading
among local businesses. Lotte
Davis, CEO of AG Hair, aims at
delivering products that are innovative, naturally derived and
only locally produced — fit for
both the street and runway.
A rja n Stephens, Execut ive
Vice President of Nature’s Path
Foods, represents a sustainablyd r iven, del iciously hea lt hy
orga n ic food compa ny t hat
believes in “leaving the earth
better than we found it.”
From a political perspective,
attendees will also hear from
Social innovation is
accelerating as a popular
business strategy amidst
constantly evolving
consumer demands
Anna Tan and Ashley Girn are participants
in the Leaders of Tomorrow mentorship
program and volunteer with the Women’s
Leadership Circle. Anna is graduating this
June with a BCom in Finance from Sauder
School of Business and plans to work in
banking. Ashley graduated from Sauder
School of Business and currently works
as a staff accountant at a public practice
accounting firm and is the co-founder
of a digital platform called Winning
Interactions.
To learn more about social
innovation and how it can create
a positive impact for your business and
community, visit hubcapbc.ca.
Register for the Greater Vancouver
Board of Trade’s Business Cases for
Values-Based Practices online at
boardoftrade.com/events.
Welcome to some of our newest members
Companies
Paul Faoro
CUPE British Columbia
cupe.bc.ca
Individuals
Martin Shen
AP Martin Pharmaceutical
Supplies Ltd.
Rosalee Prepchuk
Toshiba Business Solutions
toshiba.ca
apmartin.ca
Vanessa Vega Cruz
Golden Crops Enterprises
(778) 384-6261
John Bland
Holmes & Brakel
Business Interiors
Colin Metcalfe
Ridley Terminals
James Easto
QMC
qmeters.com
Lisa Will
STONZ
Tim O’Connor
Results Canada Inc.
stonzwear.com
resultsci.com
Richard Wang
National Bank
David Lee-Fay
Linx Marketing Inc.
Gina Repole
The NewLeader Company
nbc.ca
linxmarketing.ca
Dax Droski
Cocktails & Canapés
Chuck Grossholz
Optimum Strategies
cocktailsandcanapes.ca
optimumstrategies.ca
(604) 546-7502
worldplaynetworks.com
Leadership loves company
boardoftrade.com
Jack Lin
Phillip Roberts
Kody Au
Gamelle FitzGibbon
Vincent Lim
Jacques Wong
Iain Rommel
Shahrukh Jafree
Michael O’Rourke
(604) 724-5428
Nick Guarna
WorldPlay Networks Inc.
11
Amanda Burrows
New Associate Counsel—
Graham Scott and Stewart Lockwood
McCullough O’Connor Irwin LLP (MOI) is very pleased to announce that Graham Scott and
Stewart Lockwood have joined the firm as Associate Counsel.
GRAHAM SCOTT
STEWART LOCKWOOD
With 30 years of experience, Mr. Scott is internationally
recognized as a pre-eminent global mining and finance lawyer.
His legal training coupled with eight years of practical experience
as an exploration geologist enables him to provide expert,
balanced advice on all resource related matters.
In addition to his broad range of corporate finance clients,
Mr. Scott represents a number of Canadian public companies
listed on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange. His representation
in the mining sector ranges from individual prospectors to
multinational mining companies. In such work Mr. Scott
has negotiated and prepared participation and joint venture
agreements, partnership agreements and purchase and sale
agreements in connection with properties around the world.
Mr. Scott’s experience will complement MOI’s extensive
presence in the natural resource sector, while his relationships
with various participants will deepen our connections in the
industry.
Mr. Scott obtained a B.Sc. (Geology) from King’s College,
in London in 1968, a M.A. (Economic Geology) from the State
University of New York in 1970 and an LL.B. from the University
Mr. Lockwood is a corporate and securities lawyer with over 28
years of experience. His clients have included NYSE, TSX and
TSXV listed companies and private investment enterprises with a
focus on mining and resource industries.
Mr. Lockwood is past Chairman of the B.C. Securities
Commission Security Policy Advisory Committee, a committee
providing security advice to the Commission. Past experience
includes over 3 years as a securities regulator.
His extensive regulatory background will add bench-strength
to MOI’s public company practise.
Mr. Lockwood obtained a B.Sc./Math. From the University
of Manitoba in 1979, an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School
in Toronto in 1983 and an MBA from the University of British
Columbia and London Business School in 1985.
direct line: 604.646.3313
email: [email protected]
of British Columbia in 1980.
direct line: 604.646.3305
email: [email protected]
McCullough O’Connor Irwin LLP is recognized as a leading Canadian law firm in the areas of corporate finance,
business and securities law matters.
telephone 604.687.7077
facsimile 604.687.7099
2016 Sounding Board Ad-II.indd 1
Suite 2600 Oceanic Plaza
1066 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 3X1
www.moisolicitors.com
2016-04-22 11:43 AM